Hawks Rally in Ninth, Win
Published on August 18, 2012 under Frontier League (FL)
Rockford RiverHawks News Release
NORMAL, Ill. - The Rockford RiverHawks rallied for five ninth-inning runs in support of starting pitcher Ziggie VanderWall and went on to beat the Normal CornBelters, 5-1, on Saturday at the Corn Crib.
The RiverHawks won for just the second time this year when they trailed after eight innings.
VanderWall went eight innings in the longest start of his career. The Rockford Guilford alumnus scattered a run on four hits, struck out four and walked two. He threw 64 of 100 pitches for strikes. VanderWall (7-5) had not previously gone past the sixth inning as a starter.
Normal starter Tyler Lavigne escaped six different scoring threats over the first eight innings and took a shutout to the ninth. With one out, Justino Cuevas doubled to left-center field. Mike Thomas singled in Cuevas with the tying run and advanced to third on left fielder Bobby Rinard's high throw to the backstop. Kaleb Engelke relieved Lavigne and hit Jimmy Parque, then struck out Evan Button for the second out. Michael Hur, whom Lavigne had struck out four times, bounced a 0-1 pitch past first baseman Ernie Banks for a go-ahead RBI single. Mitch Mormann relieved Engelke and gave up a RBI single to Matt Greener and a two-run double to Jet Butler.
Lavigne (5-8) struck out nine, but gave up 12 hits in the loss.
Rockford is 2-41 when it is behind going to the ninth inning.
The RiverHawks snapped a three-game losing streak and evened the three-game series at one win each.
The series finale is scheduled for 5 p.m. Sunday.
The RiverHawks open their final homestand of the season when they play Washington at 7:05 p.m. Tuesday. Kids eat free with paid admission.
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